Building a Compassionate Community: A Patient-Oriented Approach to Care for Persons Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying
Island Health has the highest rate of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) provision in British Columbia. Recent research within Island Health’s MAiD program has highlighted gaps in support for equity-deserving populations seeking MAiD. Changes to the MAiD legislation allow eligibility for people whose natural death is not foreseeable; however, they do not meet criteria for palliative, end-of-life care. Rising rates of substance use, mental health disorders, and homelessness further underscore the need for compassionate, supportive care for those considering MAiD. Many non-profit community support organizations that provide health and social services for equity-deserving groups often lack awareness about MAiD and its processes, limiting their ability to offer informed support.
In collaboration with Island Health’s MAiD Coordination Centre, this project will employ a patient-oriented, learning health systems approach to address these gaps and foster collaboration between Island Health’s MAiD program, people with lived or living experiences (PWLLE), and local community support organizations.
The primary goals are: 1) to explore and strengthen community-based supports available for equity-deserving populations seeking MAiD on Vancouver Island, and 2) to enhance awareness and understanding of MAiD among community support organizations. This project will establish a strong foundation for developing an integrated community-based approach that offers wrap-around support to persons seeking MAiD and their families.
Comprehensive Resource Repository to Support Individuals Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying
Previous studies conducted by our team highlight significant gaps in access to health and social supports for equity-deserving populations seeking Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Recent legislative changes to MAiD expanded eligibility to include individuals whose natural death is not foreseeable, many of whom do not qualify for palliative or end-of-life care. Rising rates of substance use, mental health challenges, and homelessness further highlight the need for more coordinated and compassionate supports. This project uses a patient-oriented, learning health system approach to strengthen collaboration between Island Health’s MAiD program, people with lived or living experience, and community support organizations. By identifying existing community-based resources and developing a publicly accessible website to centralize and share this information, the project aims to enhance equitable access to community-based supports for individuals seeking MAiD and their families on Vancouver Island.